Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 89

< Second Chance, His Unending Lo…

Chapter 89

Killian’s eyes narrowed to sharp slits.

There was one thing he’d hated his entire life-being told he wasn’t good enough for Calista.

Once, he’d been destitute-with no family wealth to fall back on, no connections to leverage, nothing but his own

name.

Good grades and striking features had earned him the mocking title of “Pauper Campus Prince” among Columbia University’s idle students, a label that filled him with visceral revulsion.

Who gave them the right to treat his family background like a recurring joke?

So what if he grew up broke?

So what if money and power had eluded him?

Did that mean he couldn’t carve out a place for himself in

New York?

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But the gossip only escalated when Calista entered his life.

The campus golden girl had confessed to him publicly.

Back then, Calista had pursued him relentlessly, showing up at his dorm every morning with breakfast, saving him front-row seats in class, fetching water for his thermos, and even secretly adding funds to his meal plan.

Many called him ungrateful, accusing him of stringing her along. Marrying Calista, they taunted, would let him skip decades of grueling struggle.

Killian had hated that cynical narrative.

Until the day she casually wired enough money to wipe out the biggest crisis of his life.

That was when something inside him shifted.

He told himself he could ignore the gap-money, status, family background. That he could just date her. Just be

with her.

But, the voices never stopped. 277

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Voices flooded his ears, screaming that he was beneath her-Calista, the cherished daughter of Hartwell Group’s CEO, the spoiled princess doted on by her entire family.

He, a nobody with nothing, wasn’t even fit to shine her shoes.

A low, cold laugh rumbled in Killian’s chest.

No matter how loud the jeers, he’d had the last laugh.

Now, Calista was the one staring up from the bottom— cast out because she, not he, was unworthy.

“If you like her, she’s yours,” he said, his tone icy calm as he masked all darkness behind a stoic expression.

He turned sharply toward the restroom exit.

“I’ll also rethink our partnership,” he added.

However, Bradley shrugged, indifferent to the threat. The collaboration had only ever been about Calista.

He tossed out a final, cutting warning. “Mr. Frost, don’t

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< Chapter 89

dress it up like generosity She’s not something you get to hand over. The moment you signed those divorce papers you lost all right to claim her as yours.”

Killian scoffed and strode off, his mind already fixed on his blind date.

A successful marriage alliance with the Sullivan family would put the Hayes family’s resources firmly in his

grasp.

Calista, in comparison, was nothing but a faded afterthought.

He walked down the art corridor lined with oil paintings, pausing at a full-length mirror.

Leaning in slightly, he checked his reflection-his nose. had stopped bleeding, no visible marks marring his sharp

features.

Pleased, Killian styled his hair into a sharper quiff, smoothed out his casual suit jacket, and headed for the

restaurant booths.

He deliberately passed Calista’s aisle, back ramrod 15:45

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straight, legs carrying him confidently toward his own booth, every step radiating unbridled arrogance.

Olivia curled her lip in disdain. “Dad looks like a peacock showing off.”

“Ignore him,” Calista said flatly.

All love for Killian had long since faded, and his petty display of ego held no interest for her.

She was only concerned about Bradley’s unexplained delay.

Susan, ever perceptive, patted Calista’s hand reassuringly.

“Don’t worry, Calista. A man who rushes out of the restroom isn’t exactly a sign of reliability.”

Olivia blinked, confused by the implication.

However, Calista understood, though, and forced an

awkward smile.

Killian had never been one for patience-not where it

counted.

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< Chapter 89

Thankfully, Bradley returned right away, and the topic was dropped.

“Were you worried about me?” he asked, turning to Calista.

Calista’s expression remained neutral. “I hope your partnership wasn’t affected.”

“No need to worry,” Bradley said, choosing to keep their tense restroom exchange to himself.

He brushed it off casually. “We just went over the Q4 collaboration plan-got along well enough.”

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